Storage container for emergency fuel

ABSTRACT

The combination of a container having an emergency fuel therein for an internal combustion engine. The container is disposed in a trunk of a vehicle or in a storage compartment on a boat. A handle is formed on a body of the container. A closable outlet is formed on the body. A spout is adapted to be connected to the closable outlet. The container is manually releasably retained in the trunk of the vehicle. Also a method is disclosed of safely storing a stable emergency fuel in the trunk of a vehicle or in a storage compartment on a boat.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/964,358, filedNov. 4, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a storage container for motor fuel which can be safelystored for long periods in a conveyance for use in the emergencysituation when the regular fuel supply is depleted

The problem of "running out of gas" is as old as the use of gasoline inpowering vehicles such as automobiles and boats. It has been along-existing problem and here-to-fore no one has come up with a safeand practical answer. The reason this problem has defied solution isthat gasoline normally contains some butane and pentane giving thegasoline a flash point of minus 40° to minus 50° F. The butane andpentane are necessary so that a cold motor can be readily started. Thismeans that any spill of gasoline will quickly vaporize to formpotentially explosive fumes which can be ignited by a spark or flame. Asa result, it is extremely dangerous to store or transport gasoline in acontainer in a car or other conveyance. Indeed, many states have lawsmaking it illegal to store a container of gasoline in the trunk of anautomobile.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,358, the applicants disclose a method of using anemergency fuel in an internal combustion engine. The method includes acontainer. The present invention is an improvement to provide a shapedcontainer for the fuel to be received in space in the trunk of thevehicle which otherwise is. unutilizable or has limited use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage containerfor a fuel which can be securely stored in the trunk of a vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a containerwhich has a spout to reach into the gas inlet to the fuel tank of thevehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a closure tothe outlet of the container which renders the container non-reusablewhen the closure is opened.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodof safely storing a container of emergency fuel in the trunk of avehicle.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there isdisclosed the combination of a container having emergency fuel thereinfor an internal combustion engine, the container being disposed in atrunk of a vehicle. The container has a body having a handle thereon, aclosable outlet formed in the body from which the emergency fuel may bepoured, a spout means is adapted to be connected to the closable outlet,and manually releasable means for retaining the container in the trunkof the vehicle.

There is further disclosed the combination of a container for emergencyfuel to be stored in the wheel well of a vehicle. The container has abody to contain the fuel therein, the body having a handle thereon. Aclosable outlet is formed in the body from which the emergency fuel maybe poured. A spout means is adapted to be connected to the closableoutlet. A through opening is formed in the body. The container may bedisposed juxtapositioned to a spare wheel in the wheel well. A threadedbolt within the wheel well of the vehicle extends through the throughopening in the container such that a nut means may be tightened on thethreaded bolt to secure the container and the spare wheel within thewheel well.

The nut means may be loosened to remove the container. The closableoutlet may be opened to provide access for the spout means such that thecontainer may be picked up by the handle and the emergency fuel in thecontainer may be emptied into a fuel tank of the vehicle.

In another aspect, there is disclosed the method of safely storing astable emergency fuel in the trunk of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle hasa gas tank, and wherein the trunk of the vehicle contains a spare wheelprovided with a rim having a well defined by an outer surface. Themethod includes the steps of providing a container wherein at least aportion of its outer surface is substantially complementary to the outersurface of the well within the rim of the spare wheel in the trunk ofthe vehicle. The container is filled with a stable emergency fuel havinga relatively high flash point, so that the container may be storedsafely in the trunk. The container is removably secured to the sparewheel, so that in the event the driver of the vehicle runs out of gas,the trunk may be opened to quickly remove the container, open it, andpour the emergency fluid contained therein into the gas tank of thevehicle.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there isdisclosed the combination of a vehicle powered by gasoline and having atrunk storage area having a deck, the deck having at least one storagewell formed therein, the at least one well having a given contour, and asubstantially rigid molded plastic container. The container has an outercontour which is complementary to the given contour of the at least onewell, such that the container rests snugly within the at least one welland is restrained therein. A handle is formed on the container anddisposed such that the container may be placed in, and removed from, theat least one well by grasping the handle. The container holds anemergency fuel intended to be used if and when the vehicle runs out ofgasoline. A closable outlet is formed on the container wherein theemergency fuel may be poured from the container. The emergency fuel hasa flash point greater than 100° F. such that the emergency fuel iscombustible rather than flammable, may be safely stored in the trunk ofthe vehicle and will remain stable within the container for at least oneyear.

In further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, thereis disclosed the method of using an emergency fuel in an internalcombustion engine of a vehicle in the event the vehicle runs out ofgasoline. The vehicle includes a gas tank and further includes a trunk.The trunk has a deck having at least one well formed therein, the atleast one well having sidewalls. The method comprising the steps ofproviding a substantially rigid container, wherein at least a portion ofits outer surface is substantially complementary to the sidewalls of theat least one well. In this manner, the container may be snugly nestledand restrained within the at least one well. A handle is formed on thecontainer, the handle being disposed such that the container may beplaced in, and removed from, the at least one well by grasping thehandle. The container is fitted with an emergency fuel having asufficiently-high flash point for safe storage in the trunk of thevehicle. The filled container is nested in the at least one well in thedeck of the trunk and the filled container is stored in the trunk of thevehicle. The filled container is removed from the at least one well inthe trunk of the vehicle when the vehicle runs out of gasoline, and theemergency fuel is poured into the gas tank of the vehicle.

Still other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in this art from the following description,wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of thisinvention. Simply by way of illustration, the invention will be setforth in part in the description that follows and in part will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the followingor may be learned with the practice of the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot as restrictive.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction withthe enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the opened trunk of a typical vehicleshowing the wheel well in which the spare wheel is stored.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a substantially toroidally-shapedembodiment of the emergency fuel container of the present inventionshowing the closable outlet, handle and through opening.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 disposed inthe rim of the spare wheel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the presentinvention in which a threaded opening is formed in a bottom surface.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention having a flange portion formed on the body.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 7disposed in the rim of the spare wheel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the container,wherein the body is flexible and is received in the rim of the sparewheel.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container of thepresent invention to be received in a well in the trunk of the vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the rear section of a vehicle showing theembodiment of FIG. 10 disposed in wells in the floor of the trunkadjacent to the tail lights in the vehicle.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 12--12 of FIG.11 showing the container in the well.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the container of thepresent invention showing a sealed outlet and a spout disposed withinthe container.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flexible container in a compartment ina boat interconnected with the fuel line in the boat.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the opened trunk of atypical motor vehicle with the spare wheel 10 consisting of the sparetire 12 mounted on a rim 14. The spare wheel 10 is disposed in a wheelwell 16 formed in the deck 40 of the trunk and is retained therein by athreaded bolt 18 which is connected to the deck of the trunk in thebottom of the wheel well. The threaded bolt 18 extends upwardly throughan opening in the rim 14 and a threaded nut 30, generally a winged nut,is cooperatively threaded onto the threaded bolt 18 and tightened tosecurely retain the spare wheel 10 within the wheel well 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, one embodiment of the container of the presentinvention is a substantially toroidally-shaped body 20 to contain theemergency fuel therein. The emergency fuel has a relatively high flashpoint, preferably greater than 100° F., so that the emergency fuel isconsidered by the Department of Transportation to be "combustible"rather than "flammable". The emergency fuel is stable in storage for atleast one year. A closable outlet 22 is formed on the doughnut-shapedbody 20. Preferably, the closable outlet 22 is located under a shoulderor in a recess in the body so that the outlet 22 is protected from beingdamaged. Also, it is preferred that the outlet 22 be formed on asidewall or bottom of the body 20 as will be described. A cap or otherremovable closure means is fitted to the outlet 22 to positively sealthe outlet and prevent leakage or evaporation of the emergency fuel fromthe container. It is further preferred that when the cap or removableclosure is removed from the outlet 22, the outlet cannot be reclosed andthe container of the present invention cannot be reused. Various sealsand closures are disclosed in the applicants' copending applicationfiled Oct. 22, 1997 (serial no. to be assigned). The purpose of thistype of closure is to prevent or discourage the placement of gasoline orsimilar flammable material in the container which would produce a safetyhazard in the vehicle.

The body 20 of the container for storing the emergency fuel preferablyhas a handle 24 for the user to carry the container and to hold whilepouring. Preferably, the handle 24 is an integral portion of the body ofthe container and is disposed on the top surface of the body for readyaccess. The handle 24 may be a portion of the container bridging arecess wherein the user's hand is placed in the recess to grasp thebridge portion in the palm of the user's hand. Alternately, the handle24 may be a pair of opposing depressions on opposite sides of the body20 of the container wherein the user may place a thumb in one depressionand the fingers in the opposing depression to grasp the container. Otherhandles 24 known to persons skilled in the art may be used. The handle24 preferably does not protrude from the surface of the container. Also,it is preferred that the handle 24 be diametrically opposite from theoutlet 22 so that the emergency fuel may be poured more easily from thecontainer. The handle 24 is preferably on the top of the body and theoutlet on the bottom or sidewall for protection of the outlet.

A spout means 26 is adapted to be connected to the closable outlet 22.The spout 26 may be theadably connected, connected by friction fit orother means known to persons skilled in the art. The spout 26 is formedto facilitate pouring the emergency fuel from the body 20 of thecontainer. This obviates the need for a long-neck funnel with which topour the emergency fuel into the fuel tank. Such funnels are hard tofind and a nuisance to store. In an emergency situation, it is unlikelythat a long-neck funnel would be available. The body 20 of the containermay have an integrally formed spout 26 (FIG. 13). The spout 26 hassufficient length to press open the metal shield in the inlet to anautomobile gas tank and diameter of the spout 26 is small enough to fitinto the lead-free gas tank inlet. The spout 26 may be nested under thebody 20 of the container.

The body 20 of the container in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 has athrough opening 28 formed therein, preferably approximately centrally ofthe body 20. However, the through opening may be offset from the centerand may even be in a tab attached to the body. The exterior of the body20 is contoured to fit the internal contour within the well in the rim14 of the spare wheel 10. The threaded bolt 18 is received in thethrough opening 28 and extends above the top surface of the body 20 ofthe container. The threaded nut 30, which is preferably a winged nut, isthreadingly connected to the threaded bolt 18 and may be manuallytightened to secure the container with the emergency fuel together withthe spare wheel 10 in the wheel well 16. In this manner, the containeris juxtapositioned to the spare wheel 10. The threaded nut 30 may bemanually loosened to remove the container having the emergency fueltherein in the event the vehicle runs out of gas.

It is further preferred that the top surface of the body 20 of thecontainer have a recessed portion 32 surrounding the through opening 28.The recessed portion 32 has a diameter greater than the diameter of thewing nut 30 so that the wing nut may be fully rotated within therecessed portion 32. In this manner, the wing nut 30 and the threadedbolt 18 need not extend above the upper surface of the body 20 of thecontainer and any cover or objects placed over the wheel well 16 arefree of interference.

Alternately, the body 20 of the container may be formed with a threadedopening 34 in the bottom surface (FIG. 6). The threaded bolt 18 isthreadingly received therein. The container is secured and/or removed byrotation of the container about the threaded bolt 18. The container isidentical to the first embodiment in all other features.

In another embodiment (FIGS. 7 and 8) a flange portion 36 is formed,preferably circumferentially, on the top surface of the body 20. Theflange portion 36 may be hollow to contain the emergency fuel therein ormay be solid. The flange portion 36 is supported on the upper surface ofthe spare tire 12. It is preferred that the diameter of the flangeportion 36 be less than the diameter of the spare tire 12 to fit withinthe wheel well 16. In this embodiment, the body 20 of the container is,in other features, similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 2-6.

It is preferred that the body 20 of the container be molded from aplastic which is compatible with the emergency fuel to avoiddeterioration of the body 20 and to prevent contamination of theemergency fuel by dissolving substances from the plastic. Molding alsofacilitates shaping the contour of the body and forming both theclosable outlet 22 and the handle 24 integrally with the body 20.

Alternately, the body 20 of the container may be flexible and have abladder-like structure (FIG. 9). In this manner, the body 20 conforms tothe internal configuration of the compartment in which it is stored. Thebody is formed of a material which is compatible with the emergency fueland which is resistant to tearing and punctures. The flexible body 20may have a handle 24 and a through opening 28 formed therein so that itmay be secured to the spare wheel 10 with a threaded bolt 18 andthreaded nut 30 as with the previously described embodiments. Foradditional rigidity, the body 20 may have supporting ribs formedthereon. On a boat (FIG. 14), the flexible body 20 might be directlyconnected by tubing to the regular fuel line so that the emergency fuelcould be made available to the engine by simply turning a valve. Theflexible body would have an opening through which it could be refilledfor future use.

In still another embodiment, the container may be formed to be receivedin an additional well 42 (or wells) formed in the deck 40 of the trunkof the vehicle (FIGS. 10-12). In many vehicles there is formed a well inproximity to the rear of the vehicle 38 between the tail lights and therear wheels of the vehicle. This well 42 (or wells) may be used to storetools, maps or other items. The body 20 of the container is formed to bereceived in the additional well 42 preferably by a friction fit.However, a belt or other restraining means may be used to retain thecontainer in the well 42. A handle 24 is formed on the upper surface ofthe body 20 to permit the user to easily place or remove the containerin the additional well 42. The container further has a closable outlet22 formed on the bottom or sidewall thereof preferably opposite from thehandle 24 for use of pouring. The closable outlet 22 is thereby disposedwithin the additional well 42 and is protected from damage. Also, it ispreferred that a spout means 24 be stored within the additional well 42so that the spout means may be attached to the closable outlet 22 whenthe emergency fuel is to be poured from the container into the fuel tankof the vehicle. A depression or shoulder may be formed on the bottomsurface or sidewall of the body 20 to receive the spout means 26. It isfurther preferred that the body 20 of the container be fully received inthe additional well 42 so that the top surface of the container issubstantially flush with the deck 40 of the trunk.

This configuration allows full use of the trunk for other purposes andprotects the container from damage. However, the container may extendoutwardly from the additional well 42 and the present invention is notlimited to a flush surface.

In any of the embodiments, the container may have a self-contained spoutmeans 26 (FIG. 13) which is disposed within the body 20 and covered bythe cap or removable closure means. After the removable closure and theseal is broken, the spout means 26 is extendable from the outlet 22 andthe emergency fuel may be poured from the container into the fuel tankof the vehicle.

The container of the present invention may be formed in various sizesand configurations and if required, may be custom formed for particularvehicles. The volume of emergency fuel contained preferably isapproximately one gallon to enable the vehicle to be driven to a sourceof regular fuel. For boats, the flexible body might contain a muchgreater volume.

Thus, there is disclosed a container having emergency fuel therein and amethod of safely storing an emergency fuel in the trunk of the vehicleor in a compartment on a boat. The container has at least a portion ofits outer surface substantially complementary to the outer surface ofthe well of the rim of a spare wheel which is in the trunk of thevehicle. The container is removably secured to the spare wheel 10 andrim 14 in the trunk. Alternately, the container is secured in a well 42within the trunk of the vehicle. In the event the vehicle runs out ofgas, the driver of the vehicle may open the trunk and quickly remove thecontainer having the emergency fuel, open the container and, using aspout means provided, pour the emergency fuel into the fuel tank of thevehicle to enable the vehicle to be driven to a source of fuel.Alternately, the container may be placed in a compartment within thehull on a boat. The container may be removed and the emergency fuelpoured into the boat's fuel tank or the emergency fuel may be connectedto the regular fuel line and could be made available by turning a valve.

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from thebasic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has beenspecifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination with a vehicle powered by gasolineand having a trunk storage area having a deck, the deck having at leastone storage well formed therein, the at least one well having a givencontour,a substantially rigid molded plastic container having an outercontour which is complementary to the given contour of the at least onewell, such that the container nests snugly within the at least one welland is restrained therein, a handle formed on the container and disposedsuch that the container may be placed in, and removed from, the at leastone well by grasping the handle, the container holding an emergency fuelintended to be used if and when the vehicle runs out of gasoline, aclosable outlet formed on the container wherein the emergency fuel maybe poured from the container, and the emergency fuel having a flashpoint greater than 100° F. such that the emergency fuel is combustiblerather than flammable, may be safely stored in the trunk of the vehicleand will remain stable within the container for at least one year. 2.The combination of claim 1, wherein the container has a body having anupper surface, the handle being formed on the upper surface of the body.3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the closable outlet is formed onthe container opposite from the handle such that the emergency fuel maybe easily poured from the container.
 4. The combination of claim 1,further comprising a spout means stored within the at least one well,the spout means being adapted to be attached to the closable outlet toassist in pouring the emergency fuel from the container.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4, wherein the container has a depression formedtherein to receive the spout means when the container is stored in theat least one well.
 6. The method of using an emergency fuel in aninternal combustion engine of a vehicle in the event the vehicle runsout of gasoline, the vehicle including a gas tank and further includinga trunk, the trunk having a deck having at least one well formedtherein, the at least one well having sidewalls, the method comprisingthe steps of:providing a substantially rigid container, wherein at leasta portion of its outer surface is substantially complementary to thesidewalls of the at least one well such that the container may be snuglynested and restrained within the at least one well, forming a handle onthe container, the handle being disposed such that the container may beplaced in, and removed from, the at least one well by grasping thehandle, filling the container with an emergency fuel having asufficiently high flash point for safe storage in the trunk of thevehicle, nesting the filled container in the at least one well in thedeck of the trunk, and storing the filled container in the trunk of thevehicle, removing the filled container from the at least one trunk wellof the vehicle when the vehicle runs out of gasoline, and pouring theemergency fuel into the gas tank of the vehicle.
 7. The method of claim6, further comprising forming the closable outlet on the containeropposite from the handle such that when the container is placed in theat least one well, the closable outlet is disposed within the at leastone well and is protected from damage.